Product ReviewsMysterious Skin (DVD, 2005, Unrated)

Mysterious Skin (DVD, 2005, Unrated)

Movie synopsis
In MYSTERIOUS SKIN, an unlikely director takes on an even more unlikely lead actor and crafts a deeply felt coming-of-age tale that pulsates with the scalding beauty of tragedy. The director, Gregg Araki, whose over-the-top gay melodramas have been criticized as largely empty provocations, proves himself here to have great sensitivity. Yet it is the lead actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, best known for his work on the alien sitcom THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN, whose unforgettable, nuanced performance makes the film.

Based on the novel by Scott Heim, the story follows two teenage boys living in small-town Kansas: Brian (Brady Corbet), a clunky and awkward fellow with no discernable social life; and Neil (Gordon-Levitt), a rebellious gay youth whose fragile beauty and cruel indifference make him a successful hustler to the area's older men. Having suffered from blackouts as a child, Brian believes that these voids were actually alien abductions, and goes on a quest to confirm this. As his memories become increasingly vivid, Brian convinces himself that Neil, the star player on his childhood Little League team and a regular presence in his dreams, knows the truth. Neil does, in fact, know exactly what happened: the boys were sexually abused by their Little League coach. While Brian has suppressed the incident, Neil has held it deep within him like a treasure, considering it to have been a loving relationship of respect and tenderness, the absence of which has left him emotionally empty. The two strands of narrative are braided together elegantly, slowly leading up to a devastating final scene. Araki unifies the stories through an elegiac, celestial tone that manages to avoid preachiness via doses of appropriate humor. MYSTERIOUS SKIN is so profoundly alive with sadness and beauty that it nearly burns.

Movie was filled with lots of drama, emotions and will leave you wanting more. Great acting!

Enjoy!~~~~~Read full review...

Disturbing look at outcomes for two young men,

Plot: A teenage hustler and a young man obsessed with alien abductions cross paths, together discovering a horrible, liberating truth.

It is a disturbing look at childhood molestation the the two possible outcomes in these to teenagers. The imagery is VERY disturbing, it is not a feelgood gay themed movie at all!

Certain of the hustler scenes really ring true for me personally, especially the park cruising attitude. I STILL remember "yellow 914," at Hillcrest Park California circa 1977. (You will get the reference if you are brave enough to watch the movie.)

Trivia: Gregg Araki said in an NPR interview that he shot all of the scenes with the child actors in such a way that they did not know the sexual context of their abuse scenes, and only during editing did he make the movie appear to show children being abused or witnessing abuse.

To prepare for his role, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt spent a week visiting cities and towns in Kansas where the book is set. Scott Heim, author of the original novel, guided him around the locations and had him meet the actual people on whom the characters are based.

Director: Gregg Araki
Writers: Gregg Araki (screenplay), Scott Heim (novel)
Stars: Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth ShueRead full review...

Joseph Gordon Levitt Makes This Film

Joseph Gordon Levitt makes this film. Both young men suffer consequences from abuse (one wonders about baseball coaches now). Without giving the whole plot away, their performances are intense, disturbing, and ultimately the ending is promising (if not exactly happy).
For mature audiences only - although all scenes involving intimate contact were filmed with the actors being in separate locations.
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Fantastic film with depth

Mysterious Skin is a film that makes you think, it's a real eye opener. You'll be thinking about this film for days, or even weeks after watching it. Very well made, great performances, etc.

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A dark movie that makes you think

A movie that displays situation that occurr around us that we never take notice or informed.

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Amazing film, great extras, a classic with more appreciation for what it is and what it took to make, but also a lil sus to have the smol kiddos in a

Amazing film, great extras, a classic with more appreciation for what it is and what it took to make, but also a lil sus to have the smol kiddos in a film they didnt know or could possibly understand what it was about...but the film did the best they could to shield and protect them, but I wonder now as adults how they feel about their parents consenting for them...Read full review...

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It is not Like New.

It’s a DVD that came from blockbuster. It isn’t Like New. It has some scratches and smudges on the disc. I’d prefer to buy the blu-ray anyway. It’s a great film.

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Mysterious skin dvd

It was a great movie, very interesting and full of interesting character's , I give it a 5 star rating

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: lindacrowley64

Phenomenal

While one of the most disturbing and pulling no punches movies I've ever seen. Still an incredible film!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: waynezworldstore92

Incredible Film

I didn't know too much about this film when I first saw it, so my expectations weren't that high. However, I was pleasantly surprised and stunned at how powerful and entertaining this movie was. The acting is top-notch and the plot is weird, but believable. Few people will likely ever see this outstanding film, and that's a shame!Read full review...